Gerry Adams
Question:38 Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which she will introduce a national policy on special care units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15108/12]
View answerThursday, 22 March 2012
Questions (43, 44)
Jonathan O'Brien
Question:39 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans for development of special care units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15110/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together.
Special care involves the detention of a child under a high court order, for his or her own welfare and protection in a special care unit with on site educational and therapeutic supports. A special care unit provides secure residential service to children and young people whose behaviour is deemed to pose a risk to themselves or others and are in need of specialised targeted intervention. The detention of a child in a special care unit is considered as a last resort, for as short a time as possible, and when other forms of residential or community care are considered to be unsuitable. There are three designated special care units in the country — Ballydowd Young Peoples Centre (Dublin), Gleann Alainn (Cork) and Coovagh House (Limerick), which are operated by the HSE under a single national governance arrangement.
The HSE National High Support and Special Care Services Service Improvement Plan 2011-2014 outlines the proposed improvements in the management, development, provision and delivery of national high support and special care services. A number of key objectives from this Plan have been prioritised in the 2012 Business Plan. The service will seek to support and enhance social care and clinical governance, while sustaining the overall corporate administrative and operational governance. The Service also proposes to support and enhance the development of the integrated model of care, the enhanced outreach programme and the admissions and discharges policy and procedure project. These measures aim to ensure sustainable improvements during 2012. It is recognised that there will be challenges in sustaining improvements and developing new initiatives and change programmes within allocated resources. My officials liaise on an ongoing basis with Mr Gordon Jeyes and his team on this specific issue.